Osteospermum plant named ‘Osoutis’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by its very compact round plant habit, early flowering with purple colored ray florets and purple colored disc florets.

Latin name: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Varietal denomination: Osoutis.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis. The new Osteospermum is propagated by cuttings resulting from a cross of a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as code number ‘C273’ with a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis selection identified as code number ‘C298’ as the female, or seed, parent. ‘C273’ has a plant height of 30 cm and a plant width of 20 cm. ‘C298’ has a plant height of 18 cm and a plant width of 12 cm.

The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross grown in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in 1998. Neither ‘C273’ nor ‘C298’ has been patented. The new Osteospermum plant has been repeatably asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a period of 3 years. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Osteospermum plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 15 weeks old plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London. The instant plant was grown indoors in a 10.5 cm container.

Comparison between the new cultivar ‘Osoutis’ and a similar cultivar U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,603) ‘Osoutis’ ‘Wild side’ Plant height 22 cm 30 cm Plant width 15 cm 20 cm Flowering Opening of first response flower one week later

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification — botanical.— Osteospermum ecklonis. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘C298’ is one of our             seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998.         -   Male parent.—A seedling named ‘C273’ is one of our seedlings             from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Round, compact.         -   Plant height.—22 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—15 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate growth.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching, 16 lateral branches             without pinching.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Length.—10 cm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Internode length.—8 mm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 137C. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Single leaves, alternate and elliptic, apex: broadly             acute base: attenuate, margin: irregular serration.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—14.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, leathery.         -   Leaf.—Color — upper side: RHS 137A. Color — under side: RHS             137B. Length: Young 30 mm, mature 70 mm. Width: Young 10 mm,             mature 40 mm. Petiole: Absent. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Number of inflorescences per mature plant.—100.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Form: Ovoid. Length: 18 mm. Width: 9 mm.             Color: RHS 79C.         -   Inflorescence lastingness of the plant.—Around 5 days             depending on temperature.         -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 53 mm. Disc diameter: 9 mm.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five pointed.             Length: 7 mm. Width: 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: 50. Color: RHS 77A.         -   Inflorescence depth.—12 mm.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Ray florets.—Length: 22 mm. Width: 6 mm. Arrangement:             Capitulum with one series of ray florets. Color upper             surface: RHS N78A. Lower surface: RHS N79C. Number of ray             florets: 20. Shape — Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Satiny.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 8 cm. Texture: Sturdy, tiny hairs. Color:             RHS 137C. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Shape: Round.         -   Phyllaries.—Texture: Rough, tiny hairs. Number             ofphyllaries: 20. Length: 10 mm. Margin: Entire. Width:             1 mm. Apex: Acute. Shape: Ligulate. Color: RHS 137C both             sides. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Appearance: Present on disc florets only. Shape:             Oblong, five stamen fused to one. Length: 2 mm. Width: 1 mm.             Pollen color: R.H.S. 25A. Total no. of anthers: 50.         -   Gynoecium.—Appearance: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Pistil number: One pistil per ray or disc floret. Pistil             length: 4 mm. Stigma color: RHS 77A. Stigma shape:             Bipartite. -   Seed development: Seed development has been observed on plants of     the new Osteospermum.     -   -   Amount of seeds produced.—Moderate.         -   Seed length.—6 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 199A.         -   Shape.—Elliptic. -   Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the new     Osteospermum are resistant to fungal pathogens common to     Osteospermum. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 